Machine for applying tread rubber to tires



July 30, 1935. H. J. woocK MACHINE FOR PPLYING T-READ `RUBBER TO TIRESFiled June 6, 1932 l0 Sheets-Sheet l QN nm July 30, 1935- H. J.-woocK2,009,643

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER T0 TIRES I HJW/50de n: g Q @MenuATTORNEY July 30, 1935. H. J. woocK 2,009,643

MACHINE`FOR APPLYING TREAD RBBER TO TIRES Filed June 6, 1932 1osheets-sheet 5 IN'vrsm-ORy H. cI. Tf1/'410.01

,BY ATTORN-IE# u July so, 1935. H. J. WOOCK V2,009,642

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER TO TIRES Filed Juner, 1952 l0Sheets-Sheet 4 i if Hdmm'df f YW-wm July 30.1935- H. JbwoocKf 2,009,643

MACHNE FOR APPLiIING TREAD RUBBER TO TIRES Filed June 6, 1932 10Sheets-Sheet 5 Il 11.1 )l 4 INVENTOR /V-'Oock Qq ATTORNEY July 30, 1935'H. J. woocK 2,009,643

lIAGHIE FOR APPLING TREAD RUBBER TO TIRES Filed June e, 1932 1osheets-sheet e INVENTOR HiT/1mm@ u ATTORNEY Y July A30, 1935. H. J.wooCK 2,009,643

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER TO TIRES Filed June e; 1932 1osheets-sheet 'A INVENTOR ITI. cf. T/Vuvfl BY @WQ um ATTORNEY July so,1935. 'l

H. J. woocxK 2,009,643

IIACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER TO TIRES Filed June 6, 1932 l0Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR BY Q .um

A'ITORN EY July 3o, 1935. i H. J. 'WOQCK 2,009,643

MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER T0 TIRES Filed June 6, 193.2 l0Sheets-Sheet 9 lNvENToR He W001i:

July 30, 1935. H. J. `woo'cK MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER 'IO.TIRES1952 l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed June 6 INVENTOR E LMA;

ATTORNEY Patented .Iuly/l 3o, 1935 MACHINE FOR APPLYING TREAD RUBBER TTIRES Herbert J. Woock, Lodi, Calif., assignor to Super MoldCorporation, Lodi, Calif., a Vcorporation of Nevada Application June 6,1932, Serial No. 615,641

44 Claims.

This invention relates to the tire retreading art and has for its mainobject the provision of a practical machine for applying bulk retreadrubber to the tire in the form of a number of continuous layers orwrappings so as to build up the desired tread base on the tire casingcorresponding to that had with the use of Camelback and eliminating theneed of the saine.

The disadvantages of the Camelback have been fully recited in theco-pending application of myself and W. B. Thurman, Serial No. 542,994,filed June 8, 1931, over the apparatus of which application the machineof the present invention is a vast improvement, as will be obvious.

Apart from merely applying the rubber to t-he tire it is necessary thatthe tire be held against the rubber with considerable pressure in orderto obtain the necessary adhesion of the rubber with the tire; and inorder to fiatten the tread portion of the usual round tire so that theflat strips of rubber from the mill may be applied evenly and withsubstantially equal pressure to the tread portion for the desired width.To hold the' tire in contact with the rubber coming from the mill withthe necessary predetermined pressure and.

to maintain such pressure substantially constant as the diameter of thetire increases with the superimposed wrappings of the rubber thereon,forms another object of the present invention.

It is also a further object to provide for the automatic cutting down ofthe width of the rubber strips as they are applied to the tire insuperimposed relation to each other, so that the cross sectional form ofthe rubber when completely applied will approximate that of the finishedtread.

Still another object of this invention is to arrange the machine so thatthe cushion rubbera layer of which is applied to the bare tire casingbefore the tread rubber is applied-may be handled in the mill of themachine, confined within predetermined limits, and applied to the tire,While the tread rubber to be subsequently applied is being rolled in themill to give it the necessary thorough mixing and to bring itin propercondition for application. No unnecessary time is therefore lost betweenthe application of the cushion wrapping to the tire and the subsequentapplication of the tread rubber.

Still another object is to provide a machine for the purpose soconstructed that it may be successfully used without change inconnection with tires of any circumferential or-cross sectional size. Asa result of the incorporation of the above and other features in thismachine, as will be hereinafter seen, the rubber may be applied to thetire and the latter ready for placing in the vulcanizing mold in fromten to fifteen minutes from the time the tire is first mounted in placeon the machine ready for the initial cushion strip of rubber to beapplied.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement ofparts as will fully appear by a perusual of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the mill portion of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine witha tire to be retreaded beingadvanced toward the mill, the latter being in section, as on the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the mill showing thestrip width gauging and cutting mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same with the rolls removed.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the cushion rubber gauging and trimmingmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary back View of the tire supporting and advancingstructure.-

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line l-l of Fig` 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the compressed air actuated control device of themachine.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the switch controllingmechanism for the tire advancing motor.

Fig. 1l is a diagram showing the application of the rubber about thetire.

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the step of stopping the Wrapping ofthe rubber about the tire.

tire with the wrappings of tread rubber thereon.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the numeral I denotes the vertical side frames of the millbetween which are disposed the horizontal front and rear rolls 2 and 3mounted in bearing blocks 4 supported by the frame. The rolls are hollowand are heated by steam circulated through pipes 5 connected to therolls in a suitable manner. on one end by gears 6 and one roll on theother end has a driving gear l meshing with a pinion 8 directlyconnected to an electric motor 9; the direction of rotation of the motorbeing such that the upper surfaces of the rolls turn toward each other.The rear roll 3 is adjustable to and from th ,front roll by screws I0disposed at right angles to the roll and engaging the correspondingblocks 4 at their back ends. The screws are threaded in boxes Il securedto the frames I and on their The rolls are connected in driving relationFig. 13 is a fragmentary cross section of a o outer ends carry dialdisks I2. These disks are graduated to indicate the spacing between therolls and read against fixed pointers I3. Worm gears I4- are fixed inconnection with the screws and are engaged by worms I5 mounted on ashaft I6 extending parallel to the rolls. On one end this shaft carriesa gear I1 engaged by a worm I8 having a gear I9 connected thereto inaxial relation therewith. The worm and gear shaft 20 extends to thefront of the mill and has a hand wheel 2I thereon. A pinion 22 driven byan electric motor 23 engages the gear I9. The main or rough adjustmentof the roll is made by means of the motor while the completion of theadjustment to the necessary accurate degree, as determined by viewingthe relationship of the disks I2 to their pointers, is effected bymanipulation of the hand wheel 2I.

The rolls are long enough so that the rubber not being actually used atthe minute .can be rolled while the other rubber is being applied to thetire in the manner set forth later.

Projecting upwardly from the frames I in a position centrally betweenthe rolls are posts 24 connected adjacent their upper ends by a crossbar 25. .Sleeves 26 are slidable on the posts below the bar, thesesleeves being connected byv a cross bar 21. The sleeves and bar arenormally held raised by end lcounterweights 28 and also by tensionsprings 29 extending between the bars.

An air cylinder 30 depends from and is supported' by the cross bar 25toward its left hand end, the piston rod 3| depending from the cylinderand engaging the bar 21. A compressed air feed pipe 32 leads to the topof the cylinder with a conveniently positioned three-way hand valve 33therein, there being an exhaust pipe 34 from the valve to atmosphere.

Brackets 35 depend from and are slidably keyed -on the bar 21 insymmetrical relation on opposite sides of the cylinder and have guideand trimming plates 36 secured thereto. The opposite edges of theseplates are concavely curved on radii equal to that of the rolls as inFig. 2 so that when lowered the points of the plates will project deeplybetween the rolls. Supports 31 project forwardly from the bracketsthrough which are threaded the right and left hand portions of a screw38. This screw has a hand wheel 39 on one end and is held againstlongitudinal movement by a support 4I! secured to the rod 21. Ahorizontal graduated scale 4I is secured to one support andprojectsbeyond the other one, a pointer 42 on the other support readingagainst the scale. By means of this device the separation of the plates`38 to a distance depending on the width of the cushion rubber 43desired for any particular tire, may be effected by turning the handwheel; the gauge plates always moving symmetrical relative to the aircylinder; the position of the plates being also syminetrical to thetransverse central plane of the tire being worked on.

When the plates have been adjusted the predetermined proper distance asevidenced by the scale, air is admitted to the cylinder, which causesthe bar 2 1 and parts connected thereto to be lowered. lThe plates 36will then gauge the width of the cushion rubber to be rolled onto thetire and will trim the edges offthe samewith the rotation of the rollsso that a strip of definite width will be applied to the tire. When thestrip has been thus applied the air is exhausted from the cylinder bysuitable manipulation of the valve 33, whereupon the Weights and springswill '13 cut in the rim toward its outer edge.

act to suddenly raise the bar 21 to its normal position. The cushionstrip gauge and trimming device being mounted near oneend of the rollsjthe rubber for the tread may be rolled between the remaining portion ofthe rolls without interfering with the application of the cushion strip,so that but little time is lost between said'application and that of thetread rubber.

Projecting horizontally from the front left hand frame I (or the one onthe same sideas that adjacent the above described gauge structure) arefixed upper and lower guide -bars 44, between which and parallel theretois a screw shaft 45. The bars and shaft at their opposite ends aresupported by suitable standards 46. The shaft 45 at its end opposite themill has a sliding clutch element 41 keyed thereon normally engaging asimilar element 48 fixed on the adjacent end of a shaft 49 which isconnected by reduction gearing housed in a casing 56 with a reversibleelectric motor 5I.

The circuit to the motor is controlled from a switch box 52 mounted onthe standard 46 furthest from the mill and having a throw arm 53projecting from the top. This arm is engaged by a member 54 projectingradially from a vertical shaft 55 supported in connection with thestandard and switch box. An arm 56 projects radially from the Lipper endof this shaft and is connected to Va control rod 51 which'extendsparallel to and above the upper bar 44 and extends as far as the mill.

The bars 44 slidably support a cross head 58 through which the shaft 45is threaded, so that with the rotation of said shaft one way or theother the cross head will be moved along the bars in correspondingdirection. The switch and the threading of the shaft are arranged sothat when the switch arm is thrown away from the mill the motor andshaft are turning so that the cross head will be moved toward the mill,and

vica versa.

The crqss head supports a tubular spindle 59 projecting parallel to therolls and on the same side of the plane of the cross head as said rolls.Turnable on the spindle is a brake drum 60 with which an internal brakeband 6I is associated, said band being anchored in connection with thecross head. The operation of the brake is controlled by a suitablemechanism 62 actuated by an upstanding' hand lever 63 mounted on thecross head back of the drum. Likewise turnable on the spindle and xed tothe brake drum is a chuck housing 64 from which a plurality of radialchuck screws 65 project. The radial movement of these screws iscontrolled by bevel pinions 66 threaded thereon inside the housing andengaged by a bevel gear 61 forming the outer face of the housing andturnable relative thereto. A hand wheel 68 is secured to and projectsoutwardly from this gear concentric therewith so that the chuck screwsmay be conveniently manipulated.

. The chuck screws engage either one .or the other (depending on thesize of the tire) of a pair of internal circumferential locating grooves69 formed in a special rim on which the tire T is mounted, so as to holdthe latter concentric with the chuck housing and spindle 59. The lockingring 1I for the rim removably fits on said rim and has inwardlyprojecting and circumferentially spaced lugs 12. These lugs are adaptedto engage in either one of a pair of transversely spaced circumferentialand segmental grooves The side walls of these grooves are cut away tothe outer edge of the rim at intervals for a length greater than that ofthe lugs 12, as shown at 14 in Figs. 2 and-8. In this manner the ringmay be slipped onto the rim when the lugs are positioned to registerwith the cut away portions, and then turned so that the lugs enter thegroove and prevent outward movement of the ring. The locking ring hasopposed handle rods 15 whereby it may be easily pushed Iinto place vandthen turned. l

The positioning of the ring 1| relative to the outer or inner one of thegrooves 13 depends of course on the cross sectional size of the tirebeing Amounted on the rim. Similarly the engagement of the chuck screwswith the outeror inner rim groove 13 depends on the cross sectional sizeof the tire, in order to bring the central transverse plane of the tire,regardless of its size, as close to a symmetrical relationship to 'thegauge plates 36 as possible.

A pressure bag 16 is inserted inthe tire before the latter is placed onthe rim, this bag having an air connecting stem 11 projecting from theinner circumference thereof. The stem after leaving the bag makes asharp right angle turn -so as to extend parallel to the axis of the tireand its length is suflicient for it to project beyond the outer edge ofthe rim. At its outer end thestern has detachable air-tight connectionwith the adjacent end of `a cooperating tting 18 which is swivellymounted on an air passage member 19. This member is turnable andslidable in another passage 80 which extends radially of the tire from apassa-ge 8| which is secured to the outer end and which extends axiallyof the spindle 50; the fitting 82 connecting the members 00 and 0| beingturnable on the latter. In this manner the air connection between thetire bag and the spindle 59 may be easily made regardless of variationsin the diameter of the tire and rim, and the resultant change ofdistance of the stem 11 from the spindle, and regardless of thecircumferential position of the stem about the chuck housing.

In operation a rim of the right size for the particular tire to beworked on is placed on the chuck before the tire is mounted, the chuckcasing being held against rotation while this is being done and untilthe locking ring is secured in place by applying the brake 6|. The brakeis then released permitting the tire to be freely rotated. The length ofthe brake control handle- 63 is` such that its, upper end projects abovethe top of the tire Y so that it can be manipulated from in front of thesame.

A nipple 83 is secured to the cross head 59 with a length of exible airhose 84 connected thereto, the nipple communicating with the tubularspindle by a suitable passage 85 in the cross head. This hose isconnected to one port of a three-way valve 86 from another port of whicha conduit 81 leads to a compressed air tank 88 or other source ofpressure; the other port of the valve communicating with the atmosphere.A pedal device 89 (see Fig. 2) controls the movement of the valve.

to an air feeding or exhausting position; the pressure in the tank beingautomatically maintained at whatever degree is necessary by suitablemeans.

A rigid finger 90 projects upwardly from the cross head to adjacent therod 51 so as t6 engage either one or the other of a pair of stop collars9| and l92 adjustably mounted on said rod. The collar 9| is positionedso that the rod Will be shifted back to throw the switch arm 53 to aneu-v tral positior after the tire has been retracted from the rolls apredetermined distance with the operation of the motor in acorresponding direction. The stop collar 92 is positioned so that themotor is shut off from rotation in the opposite direction, by throwingthe switch arm to a neutral position with a corresponding movement ofthe rod 51, when the tire has reached a predetermined position relativeto the front roll of the mill. i

This position is such that the tire is iiattened in cross sectionsomewhat where it engages the roll, as shown in Fig. 11. The extent ofthis flattening is accurately determined for tires of differentsizes andaccording to what experience has shown to be correct by means of a nger93 associated with the collar 92 for reading against a chart fastened ona xed vertical board 94, the chart being figured to take care of thesize range of all tires.

Slidably .keyed on the shaft 45 is a collar 95 having a plurality ofpins 96 projecting radially therefrom Spaced circumferentially about thcbrake drum 60 are holders 91 to removably support lugs 98 which extendradially from the back of the drum in the direction of the axis thereof.'I'he pins'SS are normally clear of the path of movement of the lugswith relation to the rotation of the tire and its supporting structure.Said pins however are adapted to be moved into such path by the `pistonrod 99 of an air cylinder |00 secured to the cross. head, the rodl.being connected to a yoke ||which engages the' collar 95. A spring |02in the cylinder acts to hold the piston and collar in a retractedposition relative to the lugs, the piston being advanced when air underpressure is admitted into the cylinder and the resistance of the springis overcome.

One of the lugs has a roller |03 disposed so as to engage another roller|04 projected from a horizontal arm pivoted in connection with the crosshead on top. The roller |03 is adapted with the rotation of the drum topass under and engage the roller |04 so as to lift the arm |05; suchmovement of the arm effecting Vthe actuation of a control |06 ofsuitable character mounted on a post |01 supported from the cross hea'dand positioned so as 'to be -readily viewed from in front of the tire;as shown in Fig. 2.

Extending under the'rolls of the ymill parallel f to the shaft 35 andsupported from the adjacent frame is a shaft |08. A clutch element |09is splined on the shaft, which element is adapted to engage acooperating element ||0 fixed in connection with a sprocket wheel bywhich driving engagement with asimilar sprocket H2 fixed on the adjacentend of the shaft 45 lis had by means of a, chain ||3. At its oppositeend the shaft |08 is geared to a shaft ||4 extending parallel to therolls and disposed back of the front roll. but near the left hand end isformed with lengths of right and left hand threads as shown at ||5. Theopposite end of the shaft has gear connection with .a hand shaft H5extending to the Said shaft intermediate its ends central wide strip Sof the width desired for application to the tire. Counterweights |20 areconnected to the arms H8 and project rearwardly from the shaft ||4 andact to hold the cutters in contact with the roll. The action of thecounterweights is offset by stems |2| depending' from the arms andbearing against the back side of the crank rod |22 of a shaft |23 whichextends under the shaft I4 parallel thereto; the rod |22 being above itsshaft.

The shaft |22 extends to the right hand fram I where it is connectedwith a forwardly projecting operating lever |24. lever, when it is notdesired to have the cutters contact with the roll (as when the cushionrubber is being used), the rod |22 may be thrown back against the stems|2|, causing-the arms ||8 to be turned to lower and hold the cuttersfrom contact with the roll. Cooperating scale and pointer elements |25and |26 respectively are connected to the lower ends of the stems infront of the crank rod so that the cutters may be initially set to thedesired accurate spacing by manipulation of the hand wheel |1.

Supported from the upper ends of the arms I |8 in front of the same andof the cutters and in forwardly and downwardly angled relation to thelatter are rollers |21, of convex longitudinal curvature. These rollersare adapted to engage with the strips N so as to enable such strips tobe deflected from their original positions on the roll and from thecentral strip S as the latter moves up from underneath for engagementwith the tire. These strips N after being initially formed for a certainlength by the rotation of the rolls are caught .and pulled out by theoperator and eng'aged""with. the rollers. The portions of said stripsabove the rollers are severed from the mass of rubber ,and arere-engaged with the main portion of the rubber to the sides of the mainstrip. With the further rotation of the rolls `therefore said narrowstrips as they are formed by the cutters will be continuously engaged bythe rollers and will be maintained deected, so as lto" be clear of theplane of contact of the tire with the roll, and thus insuring that norubber to the sides of the main strip S can be engaged with the tire;since the roll is uncovered and clean for a certain distance on eachside of the main strip.

Disposed parallel to and in front of the shaft ||4 is another shaft |28which is connected at one end to one arm of a bell crank |29, the

other k,arm of which is connected to the clutch element |09. Upon movingsaid shaft in one direction therefore the clutch elements |09 and ||0will be engaged in driving relation with the sprocket wheel III; theshafts |08 and ||4 will be driven and the cutters will be movedalong theshaft. The direction of cut of the threads ||5 is such that with therotation of the shaft 45 inl a tire retracting direction, the cutter'arms ||8 and the cutters will be moved toward each other. Stop arms |30project rearwardly from the shaft |28 in the path of movement of theshaft engaging hubs of the arms ||8, so as to be engaged by the same asthe arms move to either end -of. the threads, and byl thus imparting aclutch releasing movement to the shaft |28 Will prevent the arm hubsfrom being possibly driven off the threads.

The shaft |28 is norm-ally positioned so that the clutch Ls released andis moved in the opposite dirrction to cause the clutch to be engaged Bymeans of this 4lby power means controlled at the will of the operator,and arranged as follows.

Projecting under the shaft |28 from the front of the mill is a controlshaft |3| having an upstanding shift arm |32 engaging a collar |33 fixedon the shaft |28. An arm |34 depends from the forward end of the shaft|3| and is linked to the piston |35 of a xed air cylinder |36. A spring|31 in the cylinder acts to hold the piston retracted and the shaft |28in a clutch The conduit to the cylinder |00 (which moves with '.2'

the tire) includes a length of iiexible hose |42a. Another port of thevalve |43 is connected by a conduit |45 to the tank 88 while its thirdport exhausts to the atmosphere. Upon proper manipulation of the valvehandle therefore air may be fed to all three cylinders simultaneouslycausing the driving connection between the motor 5| and the shaft 45 tobe broken, the pins 96 to be moved into the path of the lugs 98, and thedriving connection between the shafts 45 and :1'

| I4 to be established.

Mounted on the base of the mill between th frames and at the front ofand below the front roll 2 is a cylindrical casing |46. This casing ispositioned in alinement with the strip between the cutters and itslength is greater than any spacing to which the cutters may be adjusted.A thin rubber deilecting blade |41 is disposed lengthwise of and abovethe casing, being connected to the adjacent end of a length of flexiblematerial |48. This material projects through a longitudinal slot in thefront side of the casing and is rolled about a spring actuated core |49in the casing and of substantially'the same construction as employed inthe ordinary shade roller, or so that the material will be normallyWound about the core and the blade held adjacent the casing. A handle|50 projects from the right hand end of the blade so that it may beeasily pulled up againstthe resistance of the spring core.

Since at certain times it is desirable to employ the same, I provide aroller |5| for applying a breaker strip to the tire, said roller beingmounted in -alinement with the tire adjacent the back standard 46 andbeing driven by an individual motor |52.

The tire to which the tread is to be applied is rst subjected to theactionof a hurling machine to remove the old tread rubber, and exposethe fabric, so that a roughened surface to which the new rubber readilyadheres without the need of cement, is provided.A

In operation a mass of cushion rubber 43 suiTicient for one wrappingabout the tire is first placed in the mill so as to be rolled in a planebetween the gauge plates 36. At the same time. if desired a mass oftread rubber R may be placed in the mill to the side of the side of thecushion rubber so as to be rolled Without mixing with the cushion stock.The tire to be Worked on, which has been already heated in a suitableenclosure, is then mounted on the rim as previously described and thebag 16 is filled with air under pressure and maintained at such preslfisure until the completion of the rubber wrapping operations. The rollsare set to the de-. 'sired spacing by operation of the motor 23 and thehand wheel 2|, and the stop 92 is set so that the advance of the tirewill be halted when it has engaged the front roll 2 and has beenflattened a predetermined extent as determined by the chart on the board94 and according to the 'size of the particular tire.

The switch of the motor 5| is then closed by manually pulling the rod 51in the direction away from the mill, when the accompanying operation ofthe motor and the rotation of the screw shaft 45 advances the tire andits supporting structure as a unit. When the finger 90 on the cross head58 engages the stop 92 and pulls the rod 51 to a switch openingposition, it stops the motor and the advance of the tire. The tire isthen compressed and flattened where it engages the roll for a width atleast egial to that of the strip to be applied. Such engagement alsocauses the tire to be rotated'by reason of its contact with the roll andthe rubber strip to be transferred from the roll onto the tire, thestrip being severed on the roll at this point.

In the meantime the gauge plates 36` have been set to the desiredspacing and depressed into contact with the rolls by admitting air tothe cylinder 30. The strip as applied to the tire willv thus be of aneven and desired width. At the initial point of contact of the tire withthe roll, a chalk or other mark M as indicatedin Figs.

11 and 12 is made on the side of the tire, this.

mark serving as a gauge for the wrapping of the rubber thereabout. Asthe wrapping of rubthe operator throws the rod 51 so that the motor isstarted in; the reverse direction, causing the tire to back laway fromthe roll and giving room for the blade to be manipulated to sever 'therubber'gbetween the tire and roll so that no more than necessary will beengaged with the tire.A

The blade is then allowed to drop to its normal resting place adjacentthe casing |46 by the pull of the length of the material |48 thereon. Itis to be understood that an exact termination of Vthe wrapping is notabsolutely necessary, nor is a neat finish, since this wrapping is latercovered with the tread rubber and is never seen and in any event thefinish is produced by the matrix in the retreading mold in which thetire is subsequently placed.

During the above operations the various air actuated devices are not inuse. In other words, the clutch elements 41 and 4B remain engaged; thepins 9B are held from the path of the lugs 98; and the clutch elements|09 and ||0 remain disengaged. Also the lever |24 is thrown so that thecutters ||9 are lowered from the roll, since these cutters have nothingto do with the placing of the cushion strip-on the tire.

With the reverse operation of the motor, as above described, the tirecontinues to back away from the roll until the finger 90 engages thestop 9| and pushes the rod 51 so that the operation of the motor lishalted. Air is then exhausted from the cylinder 30 so that the gaugeplates 36 are lifted clear of the rolls and the remaining cushion rubberis stripped from the rolls while the tread rubber is allowed to take itsplace, the

rolls rotating continuously. The counter |06 which registers indecreasing order is also now set according to the number of wraps oftread rubber desired. The cutters |19 are then spaced by hand to givethe strip S the desired width between the cutters.

The lever |24 is manipulated to move the cutters into engagement withthe roll and with the rotation of the latter, the narrow strips N asformed from the mass of rubber passing about the roll between the pairsof cutters are caught and deflected overthe rollers |21 as previouslydescribed. This leaves the wide strip of rubber S with clean cut edgesand with uncovered clean portions of the roll to the sides of the stripso that there is no chance of any rubber other than that of the stripitself engaging and adhering to the tire.

These operations being completed-and which only consume a very shorttime--the motor 5| is started by manual operation of the rod 51 in atire advancing direction until such advancing movement is halted asbefore by the engagement of the finger 90 with the stop 92, whereuponthe tire as before rotates by contact with the roll 2. The wrapping ofthe tread rubber strip about the tire in superimposed relation to thecushion wrapping thereon immediately begins, the original mark M or anewk one being used to denote the starting point of such wrappings.

yAt the same time, the pressure in the tire is reduced somewhat, so asto prevent the still soft .cushion strip from being subjected to suchpressure as would cause it to be possibly squeezed out of placelaterally.

Simultaneously with the starting of the wrapping operation the operatormanipulates the valve control handle |44 so as to admit air to thecylinders |39, |00, and |36. This causes the connection between themotor 5| and the shaft 45 to be broken, the pins 95 to be moved into thepath of movement of the lugs 98, and the clutch elements |09 and ||0 tobe engaged. The shaft ||4 will thus be rotated as the shaft 45 rotates,which as before stated will cause the cutters to be moved along saidshaft 4 in one direction or the other. Such rotation is intermittentlyimparted to the shaft 45 a certain number of times with each fullrevolution of the tire according to the number of lugs 98 on the brakedrum 60, as said lugs engage and push past the pins 96 successively andthus rotate the collar 95 and the shaft 45 .to which said collar iskeyed.

The direction of rotation of the shaft 45 thus had relative to thedirection of cut of the screw threads ||5 on the shaft |4 is such thatthe cutters H9 are moved closer together.

As auresult the strip S is gradually lessened in Width as the wrapsabout the tire increase so that as the wraps are completed the crosssectional form of the rubber thus applied approximates that ofthe.nished tread, as shown in Fig. 13. The extent to which the Wideningof the strips is thus lessened-and consequently the degree of side slopeof the built up rubber on the tire, depends of course on the number ofvlugs '98 used, since obviously the more lugs there are the more timeswill turning movements be imparted to the collar 95 with each fullrevolution of the tire. Also, with such rotation of the shaft 45 thetire is intermittently backed up slightly from'the roll or sufficient tocounteract for the thickness of the rubber being added and to onlymaintain the 7 ber and the tire.

tire flattened for a width equal ,to that of the rubber strip beingapplied at that time.

At the same time with each revolution of the. tire the counter |06 isactuated by the roller |03, so that the operator will know how manywraps have been applied to the tire or are still to be applied withouthaving to continually watch the tire itself. When the nal wrap is aboutcompleted the operator again deflects and severs the rubber passing fromthe roll onto the tire by the use of the blade |41 as before. At aboutthe same time the air is exhausted from the various cylinders so thatthe driving engagement between the motor 5| and shaft 45 isreestablished. l'Ihis enables the tire to be retracted upon the motorswitch being again closed by hand as was done after the cushion-stripwrapping operation.

After the full retraction of the tire and the resultant halting of themotor, the operator sets the brake 6|. and exhausts the air from thetire couples the air connection with the bag and the.

tire and bag are removed as' a unit from the rim after withdrawing thelocking ring 1|. The tire may be then immediately placed in a mold andvulcanized to provide the finished and cured retread.

I have found that by the use of my improved apparatus as hereindisclosed, I am enabled to cause the tread rubber to effectively adhereto the tire without the use of applying an independent coating of rubbercement between the rub- This eliminates the cost of cement and the-costof labor for applying the same, thus materially reducing the ultimatecost of the tread applying operations. y

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for applying tread rubber to"a tire comprising a roll aboutwhich the rubber is disposed in sheet-like form', means associated withthe roll to cut the rubber to a strip of a certain vwidth during theoperation of the roll, a rotatable tire supporting device, meanstovsupport the device so that the tire may contact with the strip on theroll and be rotated by such contact whereby the strip will betransferred from the roll to the tire and be wrapped about the latter,said means including a rotatable shaft, means to rotate said shaft bythe rotation of the tire, means controllable at will to place said shaftVrotating means in operation, and connecting means between said shaftand the strip forming means to cause the width of the strip to belessened by such rotation of the shaft. A

2. In a machine for applying rubberI to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means toadvance the device toward the roll so that the tire will contact withthe strip on the roll and be rotated by such contact whereby the stripwill be applied to the tire, said advancing means comprising a longi-`tudinally immovable screw shaft threaded through the device, a powerplant for Arotating the shaft and normally engaged releasableconnections between the; power plant and shaft, means actuable by therotationl of the tire for rotating the shaft, connecting means betweenthe shaft and cutters to move the latter laterally with such rotation ofthe shaft, means to place the shaft-rotating means in operation, meansto disengage said releasable connections, and means controllable at willfor operating said two last named means simultaneously.

3. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means toadvance the device toward the roll so that the tire will contact Withthe strip on the roll and be rotated by such contact whereby the stripwill be applied to the tire, said advancing means comprising alongitudinally immovable screw shaftA threaded through the device, apower plant for rotating the shaft, means actuable by the rotation ofthe tire for rotating the shaft, a connecting mechanism between theshaft and cutters to move the latter laterally with such rotation of theshaft, said mechanism including normally disengaged connections,

means to place the shaft rotating means in op.

.tions thereon, cutter supports on said threaded portions, another shaftassociated with thel tire holding means, means to rotate said othershaft with the rotation of the tire, normally disengaged drivingconnections between said shafts, and means operable at will to placesuch connections in engagement.

5. A structure as in claim 4, with hand means applied to said threadedshaft to rotate the same.

6. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, cutters engaging the roll to form a strip of predeterminedwidth, means to hold a tire in pressing engagement with the strip on theroll whereby the tire will be rotated, a shaft parallel to the roll,cutter supports on said shaft, yieldable means normally holding thecutters against the roll, stems projecting radially of the shaft fromthe cutter supports, a crank shaft parallel to said threaded shaftagainst one side of the crank portion of which the stems movably bear,and means to turn the crankshaft at will.

'7. In a machine'for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber '1s initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, means to hold a tire in pressing engagement withthe strip on the roll whereby the tire will be rotated, a shaft parallelto the roll having oppositely cut threaded portions, cutter supports onsaid threaded portions, means to rotate said shaft whereby the supportsand cutters will be moved along the roll, yieldable means normallyholding the cutters against the roll, and means operable at will to turnthe supports on the shaft in a direction to withdraw the cutters fromthe roll simultaneously.

8. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, 'a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means tosupport the device so that the tire .will contact with the strip on theroll and be rotated by such contact whereby the strip will be applied tothe tire, said supporting means including a rotatable shaft, connectingmeans between the shaft and cutters to move the latter with the rotationof the shaft, a. collar slidably keyed on the shaft, pins projectingfrom. the collar, lugs mounted on the rotatable device radially thereofand means for moving the collar along the shaft at will to a positionsuch that the pins project into the path of movement of the lugs as thesupporting device rotates.

9. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device,fmeans tosupport the device so that the tire will contact with the strip on` theroll and be rotated by such contact whereby the strip will be applied tothe tire, said supporting means including a rotatable shaft, connectingmeans between the shaft and cutters to move the latter with the rotationof the shaft, a collar slidably keyed on the shaft, pins projecting fromthe collar, lugs mounted on the rotatable device radially thereof, andmeans operable from a point remote from the supporting device for movingthe collar along the shaft so that the pins project into the path ofmovement of the lugs.

10. In a machine for applying rubber to'a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means tosupport the device so that the tire will contact with the strip on theroll and be rotated by such contact whereby the strip will be applied tothe tire, said supporting means including a rotatable shaft, connectingmeans between the shaft and cutters to move the latter with the rotationof the shaft, a collar slidably keyed on the shaft, pins projecting fromthe collar, lugs mounted on the rotatable device radially thereof, apneumatic umt mounted on the tire supporting device and applied to thecollar to move the same along the shaft so that the pins project intothe path of movement of the lugs, and a flexible feed conduit connectedto said unit and leading from a source of supply remote from the unit.

11. In a machine for applying tread rubber t a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, movable strip cutters mounted for lateral movement,means whereby the tire will be rotated as the strip is applied to thetire, means controlled by such rotation for moving the cuttersintermittently and toward each other, and means included with said lastnamed means to enable the number of such intermittent movementsy foreach complete revolution of the tire to be altered.

12. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means tosupport the device so that the tie will contact with the strip on theroll and be rotated by such contact whereby the strip will be applied tothe tire, said supporting means including a rotatable shaft, connectingmeans between the shaft and cutters to move the latter with the rotationof the shaft, a collar slidably keyed on the shaft, elements projectingfrom the collar, a drum mounted axially of the tire supporting device toone side of the shaft and collar and turnable with the tire, a pluralityof circumferentially spaced holders on the drum, and lugs to engage theelements with the rotation of the drum removably mounted in the holders.

13. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters engaging the roll to form a l stripof predetermined width, a rotatable tire supporting device, means toadvance the device toward the roll so that the tire will contact withthe strip on the roll and be rotated by such contact whereby the stripwill be applied to the tire, said advancing means comprising alongitudinally immovable screw shaft threaded through the device,connectingmeans between the shaft and cutters to move the latter withthe rotation of the shaft, and means to thus rotate the shaft; thedirection of rotation of the shaft relative to the cut of the threadsbeing such `that said rotation imparts a retractive movement to the tiresupporting device.

14. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means to advance thetire into pressing engagement with the strip on the roll whereby thetire will be rotated and the strip transferred from the roll onto thetire and wrapped thereabout and means functioning to retract the tirefrom the roll as the successive wrappings of the rubber are disposedabout the tire with the rotation thereof.

15. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means to maintain apredetermined pressure within the supported tire, and means to advanceVthe tire into contact with the roll until its periphery at the' point ofcontact is transversely flattened to an extent corresponding in width tothat of the strip to be applied.

16. A structure as in claim 15,- with meansto alter the width of thestrip as the same is wrapped a out the tire and to also simultaneouslyretract the tire from the roll to an extent suflicient to maintain thewidth of the flattened portion substantially equal to that of the strip.

17. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which therubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means to advance thetire into pressing engagement with the roll to cause the strip to betransferred to the tire, and means functioning with the advance of thetire to a predetermined position relative "o the roll for halting theadvancing movement.

18. A structure as in claim 17, with adjustable means included with saidfirst named meansl whereby the advancing means may be selectively haltedwhen the tire supporting device is vary,- lng distances from the roll.

19. A structure as in claim 17 in which said means included a manuallyoperable member whereby the advancing movement may be controlledirrespective of the position of the tire relative to the roll.

20. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means supporting saiddevice for movement at right angles to theaxis of the roll, an electricmotor for advancing the device toward the roll, aswitch for the circuitof the motor, a rod connected to the throw arm of the switch extendingparallel to and along tho'device supporting means, an adjustable stop onthe rod, and a finger mounted on the device to engage the 'stop' andmove the rod lengthwise to open the switch when the tire has been vancedio a predetermined position relativ.: c the roll.

21. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right angles to theroll, a'tire supporting device slidable along the elements, a screwshaft threaded through the device, and a reversible power deviceoperatively connected to the shaft.

22. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right angles to theroll, a tire supporting device slidable along the elements, a screwshaft threaded through the device, a reversible electric motor connec edto the shaft, a switch in the motor circuit having a throw arm movablein opposite directions from an open position to control the operation ofthe mo*or in opposite directions, and switch control means operated bythe movement of the device in opposite directions to predeterminedpositions along the supporting elements to move the switch arm to anopen position.

23. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right angles to theroll, a cross head slidably supported cn the elements, means to move thecross head along the elements, and a tire-rim holding device turnablymounted on the cross head and disposed with its axis of rotationparallel to the roll.

24. In -a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right anglesto theroll, a cross head slidably supported on the elements, means to move thecross head along the elements, a tire-rim engaging chuck turnablymounted on the cross head and disposed with its axis of rotationparallel to the roll, and means controlled at will to hold the chuckagainst rotation.

25. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right angles to theroll, a cross head slidably supported on the elements, means to move thecross head along the elements, a spindle rigid with and projecting fromthe cross head paralled to the roll,

a tire-rim engaging chuck turnable on the spindle, a brake drum fixedwith the chuck, a brake band anchored on the cross head, and a brakelever for actuating the band mounted on the cross head. f

26. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which? the rubber is initiallydisposed, support and guide elements extending at right angles to theroll, a cross head slidably supported on the elements, means to move thecross head along the elements, a tire supporting rim, and meansremovably and turnably supporting the rim from the cross head so thatthe axis of the tire is parallel to the roll.

27. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a cross head, means to move the cross head at right angles tothe roll, a tire supporting rim, means removably and turnably supportingthe rim from the cross head so that the axis of the tire is parallel tothe roll, and means to maintain a tire on the rim under pressure whilesupported from the cross head.

28. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a cross head, means to move the cross head at right angles tothe roll, a tubular spindle rigid with and projecting from one side ofthe cross head parallel to the roll, means turnably mounted on thespindle to support a tire engaging rim, an air passage conduitprojecting radially of the spindle from the outer end of the spindle andturnable relative thereto, said conduit at its outer end being adaptedfor connection to the air stem of a tire tube, and a flexible conduitconnected to the cross head and communicating with the adjacent end ofthe spindle.

29. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a chuck, means mounting the chuck with its axis of rotationpar'allel to the roll, said chuck including a casing and adjustablechuck pins projecting radially from the casing, and a tire 'engaging rimto extend over the casing and having transversely spaced grooves in itsinner periphery for separate engagement with the outerv ends of thepins.

3 0. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll about which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means to relativelyadvance the tire into pressing engagement with the strip on the rollwhereby the tire will be rotated, and means to maintain a constant andpredetermined pressure within the tire while it is thus supported andbeing rotated.

31. A machine for applying tread rubber to a tire comprising a mill toroll the rubber to a thin sheet-like form, cutters engaging one of therolls of the mill to cut the rubber sheet intermediate its edges to forma strip for application to a tire, means to hold a tire in rotatableengagement with said roll in the plane of the strip, means cooperatingwith the cutters to cut other relatively narrow strips in the rubber tothe sides of the first named strip coincident with the cutting of thelatter; there being means for engagement with said narrow strips to holdthem deflected laterally of the rst named strip and clear of the roll inIthe plane of engagement of the tire therewith.

32. A machine for applying tread rubber to a tire comprising a mill toroll the rubber to a thin the direction' of rotation of the roll inforwardly angled relation to the axis ot the roll 'and of a lengthgreater than the width of the narrow strips.

33. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire, a mill comprisinga pair of horizontally spaced rolls, laterally spaced gauge platespositioned above and centrally between the rolls, the opposed edges ofsaid plates being curved to 'lit the peripheries of the rolls, meanssupporting said plates for vertical movement, and means to control suchmovement.

34. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire, a mill comprisinga pair of horizontally spaced rolls, laterally spaced gauge platespositioned above and centrally between the rolls, the opposed edges ofsaid plates being curved to nt the peripheries of the rolls, a barparallel to the rolls from which the plates depend, means slidablysupporting said bar for vertical movement, means applied to the bar tonormally hold the same raised so-that the plates` are clear of therolls, and means to lower the bar against the resistance of said holdingmeans at will.

35. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire, a mill including aroll about which the rubber to be applied to the tire is disposed, meansto rotatably support a tire in engagement with the roll in the plane ofthe rubber thereon whereby the tire will be rotated with the roll andthe rubber wound thereabout in the form of a continuous strip, andmeans.operable at will and mounted in association with the roll forengagement between the strip passing from the roll onto the tire toprevent further wrapping or the strip about the tire.

36. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire, a mill including aroll about which-the rubber to be applied to the tire is disposed, meansto rotatably support a tire-in engagement with the roll in the plane ofthe rubber thereon whereby the tire will be rotated with the roll andthe rubber wound thereabout in the form of a continuous strip, and aseparating and severing device mounted in connection with the roll forplacement between the tire and the strip passing from the roll toprevent 4further adhesion of the strip to the tire and enable the stripto be severed from the tire.

37. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire, a mill including aroll about which the rub ber to be applied to the tire is disposed,means to rotatably support a tire in engagement with the roll in theplane of the rubber thereon whereby the tire will be rotated with theroll and the rubber wound thereabout in the form of a continuous strip,a blade adapted for engagement with the tire transversely thereof, alength of flexible material depending from the blade, and means mountingthe lower end of the material in connection with the roll in the planeoi. the strip.

38. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, cutters to engage the rubber on the roll to form a strip ofpredetermined width, means to hold a tire in contact with the strip onthe roll whereby the tire will be rotated, a shaft parallel to saidroll, cutter supports mounted on the shaft, yieldable means normallyholding the cutters against the roll, and

means operable at will to turn the supports on the shaft in a directionto withdraw the cutters from contact with the roll and rubber.

39. In a machine for applying tread rubber to a tire in the form o f acontinuous strip, movable strip cutters mounted for lateral movement,means whereby the tire will be rotated as the strip is applied to thetire, means controlled by such rotation for moving the cutterslaterally, and means controlled at will from a fixed point remote fromthe tire for placing the cutter moving means in operation.

40. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the strip is initiallydisposed, a rotatable tire supporting device, means to initially advancethe device toward the roll so that the tire will contact with the stripon the roll and be rotated by such contact, whereby the strip will beapplied to the tire, said advancing means comprising a longitudinallyimmovable screw shaft threaded through the device, and means to rotatethe shaft in a certain direction with the rotation of the tire anddevice; said direction of rotation relative to the cut-of the threadsbeing such that said rotation imparts a retractive movement to the tiresupporting device.

4l. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a device to rotatably support a tire, means to advance thetire into pressing contact with the roll so that its periphery at thepoint of contact is transversely flattened to an extent in directrelation in width to that of the strip to be applied, and means todecrease the width of the strip as the latter is wrapped about the tireand to also simultaneously retract the tire from the roll to an extentsuiiicient to maintain the Width of the iiattened portion proportionalto that of the strip.

42. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form of acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, a tire-rim holding device disposed so that the axis of thetire is parallel to the roll, means rotatably mounting said device formovement at right angles to the roll and means applied to said device toclamp the same against rotation at will- 43. In a machine for applyingrubber to a .tire in the form of.a continuous strip, a driven roll onwhich the rubber is initially disposed, laterally movable cuttersnormally engaging the roll to form a strip of predetermined width, andmanually controlled mechanical means operable at will to move thecutters clear of the roll and including means to hold said cutters insuch clear position.

44. In a machine for applying rubber to a tire in the form oi acontinuous strip, a driven roll on which the rubber is initiallydisposed, laterally movable cutters normally engaging the roll to form astrip of predetermined width, hand means to thus move the cutters, ascale parallel 'to the roll tlxed with one cutter and projecting beyondthe other cutter, and a pointer to read on the scale ilxed with saidother cutter.

HERBERT J. WOOCK.

